Stacking device

DESCRIPTION

Positioning device for storage containers.

Object of the invention

The present invention, as expressed in the statement of this specification, refers to a container positioning device, specifically intended to position empty cardboard boxes and form columns for storage.

The device has guiding means and clamping the column of stacked boxes during the formation process of the column itself, as well as means that prevent the gravity drop of those boxes once released for subsequent thrust out of the device.

Said positioning device constitutes a complementary element of the cartoon box shaping machines, the said boxes being received to carry out the stacking in columns of oses in order to carry out their subsequent storage. Background of the invention

The cardboard boxes that are formed in the corresponding machines are sent through a continuous belt to a positioning device / stacker of those boxes, in order to form columns for later storage.

Conventional positioners or stackers have the disadvantage that the regulation of the format or size of the box to be stacked is expensive to carry out.

This drawback is solved with the box stacker claimed in the Spanish Invention Patent No. 9201460, which has adjustable vertical guides that allow to easily and efficiently achieve the adaptation of the device to the box format.

However, although this stacker claimed in the said invention patent is effective, it is no less true that the stacking of the boxes is not of the desired efficiency as far as correction of the stacking is concerned.

Description of the invention

The device of the invention, is of the type of those provided to collect, by means of a conveyor belt, the boxes or containers already formed, tape that leads them to the interior of the device itself where they are automatically elevated to form columns of stacked boxes, in which moment a pusher mechanism leads to the exit.

The device includes means for the simple and rapid regulation of the box format, as well as counters to form columns of equal height, in addition to ensuring the correct stacking of all the boxes that constitute said columns.

These benefits are achieved based on the structural characteristics of the device of the invention, counting as the first fundamental characteristic incorporating a pair of vertical partitions for guiding the column of stacked boxes during the process of forming the column, partitions that are easily adapted to any box format as a result of which they are associated with sliding arms on spindles.

In addition, these vertical partitions have some pressing elements that are inserted in longitudinal and vertical grooves provided for that purpose in those, and whose pressing elements are retractable and in a position they press on the boxes retaining oses to prevent them from falling by gravity.

Likewise, it is foreseen that once the boxes that form each column are released, to be displaced by the corresponding pusher towards the outside of the device, to prevent the boxes of that column from falling by gravity, which prevented its extraction movement, they have provided means that take down some guides that form supports for the last box of the column.

Means or parts are also provided that constitute a stop to control the correct entry of the box into the device, so that in collaboration with retractable joists also guided in the grooves where the previously referred pressing elements are located, the box is pushed to an upper area where it is trapped between these pressing elements.

Likewise, detecting means are provided, both in the supply belt of the boxes towards the inside of the device and in the west exit zone, which detected possible jams, which immediately stops the operation.

A last characteristic of novelty presented by the device of the invention is that the tape itself or feeding belt of the boxes towards the device itself, is a tape mounted in a sliding manner so that in a resting position it is housed and hidden inside the own device, favoring the transport and storage of west.

Brief description of the drawings

To complement the description that is going to be carried out below and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to the present specification, where the following is illustrated with an illustrative and non-limiting character:

Figure 1.- Shows a side elevation view of the device made in accordance with the invention, as well as the conveyor belt or belt that introduces the boxes inside the device.

Figure 2.- Shows a front view of the same device represented in the previous figure.

Figure 3.- It shows a schematic view also in side elevation with the belt or conveyor belt of introduction of the boxes in a resting position housed inside the device itself.

Figure 4.- It shows a detail of the position and functionality of the retractable joints responsible for pushing up each box that enters the device.

Description of the preferred embodiment

As can be seen in the aforementioned figures, the device of the invention was provided to position and stack boxes 1 forming columns for storage, as clearly shown on the left side of Figure 1, so that those boxes 1, coming of a forming machine and through a tape or band

ES 2 114 792 A1 of feeding 2, are dragged to the device itself, after being guided in that feeding band 2 by means of initial positioning plates 3 and lateral rods

4.

Well, the positioning device itself comprises a pair of plates or lateral partitions 5 affected by longitudinal grooves 6, in which some pressing elements 7 that are movable inwards and outwards are located, so that in the first position of the two mentioned press against the boxes 1 housed inside the device, that is between the plates or partitions 5, while in the position in which these pressing elements 7 release the boxes, These can be pushed and moved towards the outside of the device as it will be exposed later, and thus form columns of boxes 1, for later storage.

The plates or partitions 5 constitute a guiding means for each column of boxes 1 to be stacked during the formation process of the column itself, so that those partitions or plates 5 are easily adapted to any box format, by virtue of that these are mounted on corresponding lateral and external arms 8 that are slidable on a pair of spindles 10 located in the same horizontal plane, and a spindle 11 located in an upper plane.

The device also comprises a pair of cylinders 12 and 13, so that the first one was associated with the pressing elements 7 by means of a simple articulation 14. This cylinder 12 has the purpose of retracting, or carrying out the squeezing of the pressing elements 9, to release the boxes 1 and allow the corresponding pusher 15, actuated by a long-distance cylinder 16, to carry out the thrust and corresponding displacement. from the stack or column of boxes 1 towards the outside of the stacking area.

To prevent the boxes, once released, fall by gravity, which prevented its extraction movement, the cylinder 13, whose rod is integral with a rod 17, lowers a tilting guide 18 towards the inside of the device, forming two supports for the last box 1 of the column.

At the entrance of the device, pieces 19 are provided as stops to regulate the entrance of the boxes 1, adapting to the height format of the box itself, all in such a way that those pieces 19 are slidably mounted on a profile whose ends are integral with a vertical rack 20, guided, on which a regulation pin 21 acts, with the peculiarity that these stopper pieces 19 are intended to control the correct entry of the box into the device, so that it enters perfectly flat, and that some retractable ones 22, also guided by the slots 6, push said box to the upper area, where it is trapped between the pressing elements 7.

Said retractable joists 22 are associated with a movable structure 23 that moves along guides 24, due to the actuation of a cylinder

25.

The device also includes a spindle 26 that regulates the front stop 27 where there is a micro 28 that detects the positioning of the box and activates the lifting process, stop 27 which also has a pair of joins 29 that ensure support and support from the box.

The retractable racks 22, referred to above, allow the corresponding lifting platform used conventionally to be dispensed with, making it possible for the device to be structured more simply and to allow a better adaptation of formats for the boxes.

The device has photocells 30 and 31, located both at the exit and in correspondence with the supply belt 2, provided therein to detect possible jams that led to the immediate stop in the operation of the device itself.

Finally, say that the belt or conveyor belt 2 that draws the boxes 1 from the forming machine to the device itself, is mounted on some wheels 32 and guiding means 33, to allow that in the position of reposoodenousoacintaobandatransportadora can be housed inside the own device, thereby favoring the transport of the whole.

ES 2 114 792 A1